Simone Biles Has New Canine Co-Stars

Superstar gymnast Simone Biles has taken the last year off, but she’s been busy—especially this summer. She appeared on the Nickelodeon show Mutt & Stuff in an episode titled “Doggy Gymnastics,” which you can watch on Nick Jr. on Sunday, September 3, at 10 a.m. And she was named Favorite Female Athlete at Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Sports 2017. Before that win, I caught up with the five-time Olympic medalist.

What does the nomination for Favorite Female Athlete at Kids Choice Sports 2017 mean to you?
I feel like it means a lot. And for the fans that keep voting and supporting—that really holds a special place in my heart. Other than that, the girls that I’m up against are a pretty amazing group of girls and it’s just so cool to even be in the same category as them.

Is this your first nomination? What else have you been nominated for?
Last year I won Favorite Newcomer at Kids Choice Sports.

Who was your athlete role model growing up? Have you ever gotten to meet that person?
I’d say it was Alicia Sacramone, who is a gymnast. I did get to meet her a couple of times, and that really inspired me. I first met her when I was 14, and then, when I was 16, I got to meet her again.

Since the Rio Olympics, what is the coolest thing you’ve gotten to do?
I really liked meeting the president in 2016, and going to some of the award shows.

Do you have any pets?
Yes, I actually have three dogs. They’re German Shepherds.

What was your reaction when you were invited onto the show Mutt & Stuff?
I was really excited to be on it because I know a lot of kids watch that show, so to get that variety of an audience is pretty cool. I know some of my cousins from Florida [saw] the commercial for it [before it aired], so they [were] pretty excited for that.

Photographs by (from top): Bonnie Osborne/Nickelodeon©2017; Alex Wong/Getty Images